The Home Front in Harpenden - 1939

Exhibition on 6 September 2014

By Rosemary Ross

Iris Page and Margaret Bell, with a display based on Iris's memories

Gavin Ross, September 2014

Marking just 75 years since the start of WWII and the arrival of some 2000-2500 evacuees in Harpenden between Friday the 1st and Sunday the 3rd September 1939, we were delighted to welcome one of those evacuees to the exhibition. Iris Page, with her husband John and lifelong friend Margaret Bell, came to Harpenden specially to visit the exhibition and share their memories. Iris has written the story of her wartime years in Harpenden - to share with her family and anyone who is interested.

The exhibition featured other evacuees, and many aspects of how Harpenden prepared for the war years. Les Casey, our curator, drew from the Society's archives of photos, posters and memorabilia to illustrate themes such as the Home Guard, the Women's Land Army, Air Raid precautions, canning vegetables and other self-help measures.

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